title: [Effect of otopoint-needle embedment on headache and plasma 5-HT content in migraine patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of otopoint-needle embedment on migraine and to explore its underlying mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-two migraine outpatients were equally randomized into acupuncture group and medication group. For patients of the acupuncture group, one sterilized intradermal needle was inserted into E (MA-AT)-point and advanced toward Nie (temple-point, MA-AT), then another inserted into Nie (Temple-point, MA-AT) and advanced toward Zhen (occipus-point, MA-AT), followed by fixing the needles with a piece of adhesive-tape respectively, combined with Wei (stomach-point, MA-IC), Jiaogan (sympathesis-point, MA-AH 7) for migraine patients with nausea and vomiting, and with Yan (eye-point, MA-L 1) for those with phengophobia. Plasma serotonin (5-HT) contents before and after the treatment were detected by fluorescence spectrophotometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with the pre-treatment, the synthetic scores of two groups one month and 6 months after the treatment were decreased significantly (P < 0.01). The integrative sores of the acupuncture group one month and 6 months after the treatment were significantly lower than those of the medication group (P < 0.01). The total effective rates of recent efficacy and long-term efficacy of the acupuncture group were 82.61% (38/46) and 83.72% (36/43) respectively, being significantly higher than those [67.39% (31/46) and 57.14% (24/42)] of the medication group. After the treatment, plasma 5-HT content of the acupuncture group was remarkablely higher than that of the medication group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Otopoint-needle implant can effectively relieve headache in migraine patients and upregulate plasma 5-HT level.
authors.affiliation: College of Chinese Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050091, China. jia7158@163.com
authors.forename: Chun-sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Li-ya
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Xiao-shun
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Xiao-feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wen-li
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hui-jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin